Activists say state lags in listing toxics

Jane Kay, EXAMINER ENVIRONMENTAL WRITER

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, March 4, 1997

1997-03-04 04:00:00 PDT CALIFORNIA -- The Wilson administration has failed to use a state anti-toxics law to limit dozens of chemicals that can cause birth defects and other health problems, an environmental group says.

The Natural Resources Defense Council accused the administration Monday of failing to start a regulatory process that would remove from the market 70 allegedly harmful chemicals common in pesticides and other products.

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The law says a panel of scientists must place on a Prop. 65 list any chemical that is identified as a carcinogen or reproductive toxicant by an authoritative body such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Citizens and prosecutors can bring lawsuits against businesses they believe are responsible for causing illegal levels of the listed chemicals in consumer products or drinking water.

In November 1994, the EPA added 286 chemicals to a list under a program that requires businesses to report major chemical releases.

The Natural Resources Defense Council says 70 of the 286 can cause miscarriages, birth defects and developmental problems, and that they should have been placed on the Prop. 65 list of regulated chemicals.

Meyerhoff said the Wilson administration's science panel had refused to do so.

Officials have "built walls, created loopholes and used the tangle of government, all to prevent listing chemicals," he said.

"With regard to any allegations that (the agency) is foot-dragging, I can only assure you that it's not the case," said William Vance, acting deputy director for scientific affairs of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

"We have to work through the chemicals vis-a-vis the administrative listing process," Vance said.

"What I will be doing tomorrow, as soon as they (the environmentalists) fax me that list, is to see if the 70 are on my list of about 300 chemicals awaiting evaluation," Vance said. "I would be surprised if all 70 of these would not have been discovered previously."

The EPA considers one out of every eight pounds of pesticides used in California to be reproductive toxicants, the Natural Resources Defense Council said.

Among the 70 chemicals cited by the council are diazinon, an insecticide found in Black Leaf Ant Killer Powder, Green Light Many Purpose Dust, Flea Halt Collar for Dogs and other products.

Also among the chemicals is Resmethrin, an insecticide in Black Flag House and Garden Insect Killer, Raid Multibug Killer Formula D-39 and Enforcer Wasp and Hornet Killer.

The herbicide dicamba, found in Ace Hardward Spot Weed Killer, is also on the list. &lt;